NYE under a palm tree

6 places to start 2018 in style

Wherever they may be, palm trees remind me of home. I grew up on the tropical island of Réunion, you see. Standing knee-deep in a blue lagoon is kinda my thing. Here are my six picks for a breezy New Year’s Eve.

Tulum, Mexico

I told you about this place of sun-soaked decadence before. It’s where civilisation meets jungle. Where dreams become reality. Tulum challenges your senses and is the perfect place to rest your feathers in a climate that stimulates instant relaxation. Take my word for it. www.tulumtreehouse.com

Corn Islands, Nicaragua

One of the best kept secrets in the Caribbean is only a 1.5 hour flight away from hustle and bustle of Nicaragua’s capital Managua. The Corn Islands – appropriately named Big and Little Corn Island – are perfect for popping a bottle of champagne under a palm tree (or gin, if you’re feeling rebellious). Combined with discovering the beauties of mainland Nicaragua, this is a memory you will forever cherish. www.littlecornbb.com

Canggu, Bali, Indonesia

For those who prefer to spend their New Year’s Eve in full-on party mode, Bali is the place to be. The Indonesian island is home to some of the best beach clubs in the world – and the parties to prove it. A bunch of Balinese birds told me NYE at Finn’s Beach Club in Canggu is legendary. www.finnsbeachclub.com

Havana, Cuba

Whether you decide to stay in ‘Habana Vieja’, the old town, or stroll off into the nearby barrios, Cuba’s capital is drenched in festivity during New Year’s Eve. Let a taxi driver with drive you around in a 50s Plymouth, let a stranger teach you the rumba, let the magic of this moment in time sink in. Be careful at midnight, though. Habaneros are known to throw a bucket of water out the window to wash away all the bad things of the past year. Havana, ooh na-na. www.havana.oohnana

L’Ermitage-Les-Bains, Réunion

My beloved homeland is full of mysteries to unravel. Why not seize the occasion and do just that around New Year’s Eve? When the clock strikes twelve, the beach of L’Ermitage-Les-Bains is a sight to behold as dozens of Chinese lanterns are sent into the sky. What better way to wake up the day after and start the new year floating around a lagoon that’s so blue your eyes hurt… www.relais-hermitage-saintgilles.fr

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Imagine floating villages and rice paddies. Imagine a place that allows you to release your inner yogi, take a cooking class, and swim a lap or two in an unimaginably serene looking infinity pool. It exists, in Cambodia, and goes by the name Phum Baitang. A luxury boutique resort amidst eight acres of rural beauty, which makes for an unrivaled travel experience. Design lovers (and who isn’t, really?) will never want to leave. The contemporary take on traditional Cambodian architecture – with lots of weaves, wood and stone – is simply astonishing. I can’t imagine a better place to polish up my feathers for the new year. Who’s with me? www.thestylejunkies.com/portfolio/phum-baitang-hotel-siem-reap